Microorganisms desulfurization of coal

A culture of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans strain T-4, isolated from Song Zao Coal Mining, China, is able to use pyrite from coal as a source of energy. The bacterial culture solution with 108 -109 cells/ml, pH 1.55 - 1.70 was employed in the nine coal samples with -200 mesh have been studied at initial pH 1.7.30℃ , 20-30% coal pulp density. The bacterial removal sulfur from coal in samples 3, 4, 6 and 7 were reduced to 1.05 - 1.33% and 86.11% of pyritic sulfur can be removed in 4-24 hours.